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Feb. 3, 1931. D. A. MCLAUGHLIN 9 FQUII'I'AIII PEN Filed. on. e. 1929 Patented Feb. 3, 1931 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DONALD A. MCLAUGHLIN, 0F JANESVILIQE. WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE PARKER PEN COMPANY, OF J'ANESVILLE, WISCONSIN, A. CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN FOUNTAIN PEN Application filed October 9, 1929. Serial No. 898,317.

My invention relates to self-filling fountain pens of a character having an ink sack collapsible by pressure-bar mechanism actu-.

ated by endwise pressure against a plunger or button located at the end of the pen barrel opposite the pen-section.

Heretofore, it has been customary in fountain pens of this character, to compress the ink sack by means of a pressure bar carried by a flat resilient member or spring, the lower end of which abuts against the pensection for support of the same against enclwise movement \vhen the end-mounted plunger or button is pressed endwise. Such spring bows inwardly when the plunger or button is pressed inwardly thereby moving the pressure bar inwardly to collapse or deflate the ink sack and the spring straightens out when the plunger or button isreleased permitting the ink to be sucked into the sack. NVith such arrangement, the pen section must be screwed into, or otherwise positively secured, to the barrel to prevent the same from being loosened or ejected by the pressure exerted against it in the collapsing of the sack.

The foregoing construction is subject to certain objections and disadvantages, some of which are: The pen point section and barrel must be provided with threads which add materially to production costs; the parts must be made and fitted with a high degree of nicety to assure that the pressure bar supporting spring will properly abut the pen section so that such spring will be normally unbowed andlwill, at all times, be bowed the proper extent to fully deflate the sack; the pen barrels may shrink after being placed on the market thereby upsetting the originally-provided relationship between the above-mentioned fitted parts of the pen; the ink sack is supported by the pen section and the lower end of the pressure bar supporting spring contacts with the ink sack tending to chafe the same and hasten its deterioration;

and the ink sack being supported by the pen section, rotates with the pen section when the latter is screwed into the barrel during which the sack is likely to be caught and twisted by the pressure bar mechanism which, unless remedied, hinders the normal functioning of the sack.

The principal object of my invention is to overcome the foregoing disadvantages and objectionable features existent in fountain pens of the character particularly referred to; and, to that end, my invention generally contemplates the provision of a supporting device for the lower end of the resilient member or pressure bar supporting spring, which slip-fitted into the barrel; shrinkage of the partsafter the pen is in the hands of the user will not affect the operation of the pen; the spring member does not have a deteriorating effect upon the ink sack; the ink sack and pen section may be inserted within the barrel by an endwise, non-rotatable move-- ment so that the ink sack will not become twisted and will, at all times, deflate normally; and a simple, inexpensive and easily assembled and disassembled pen structure is provided.

- A further object of my invention is to provide a novel form of sleeve abutment for supporting andreceiving the lower end of the spring member, which abutment of itself is arranged to coact with the pen barrel to prevent shrinkage of the latter to maintain a predetermined spacing between a portion of the sleeve and the barrel providing at all times a proper receiving-supporting space for the lower or inner. end of the spring member. More particularly, my invention contemplates, specifically, the use of a sleeveype abutment having one part adapted to e locked within a suitable groove in the pen barrel; another part ofa diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the pen barrel so as to fit snugly thereagainst for the apparent as this description above shrinkage resistance; and another part of still further reduced dimensions providing between the same and the barrel wall a space for receiving the end of the spring member.

Other objects and advantages will become rogresses and by reference to the drawing w erein,

Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a fountain pen embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a pers ective view of the pressure bar mechanism s own in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental view, partially in section, showing the relationship between the pressure button and the pressure bar supportin spring; and a Flg. 4 1s-a perspective view of the sleeve abutment shown in Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the form of fountain pen structure illustrated includes a barrel 10 which supports at its lower end a pen-section comprising a nozzle'll, feed bar 12 and nib 13. This barrel is, preferably, formed of hard rubber, pyralin or other similar material. The cylindrical end part 11 of the nozzle is of reduced diameter and has a snug, tight slip-fit with the lower end of the barrel. The extreme inward end part 11"" of this nozzle is still further reduced in ter and receives the open end of the ink sack 14 in a'manner well understood.

Fillin of the sack 14 with ink is accomplished y means of a bowable s ring member 15 and pressure bar 16 whic rests fiat against the ink sack for collapsing the latter substantially throughout its length as the spring 15 is bowed. This mechanism is supp orte and actuated in the following manner he upper or rear end of the pen barrel is rovided with a reduced threaded neck 17 aving a central opening 18 in which is mounted a hollow plunger 19 provided with a pressure button 19 on its outer end. The lower or inner end of this plunger is slotted providing a plurality of resilient fingers 2O avin at their ends shoulders or flanges 21" norma ly limiting outward movement of the plun er, but permitting the plunger to be with rawn through the opemng upon sufficient ressure being a plied thereto to compress t e fingers 20. he pressure bar sup porting spring 15 adjacent its rear or upper end and beyond therear end of the ink sack 14, is turned diagonally inward and then out-. wardly so that its extreme rear end passes into and is seated within the plunger 19 as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

,My invention has to do mainly with the provision of supporting means for the lower or forward end of [the spring member 15 which is independent Of'the pen section 11 so that upon inward movement of the button 19, the spring will be bgwed and the pressure bar 16 moved inwardly to deflate iame- 1 the ink sack. To this end, I provide a sleeve member 22 (Fig. 4) which is provided with three different-diameter sections. The larger-diameter section 22 is adapted to seat in a groove 23 formed in the inner barrel wall above the-inward end of the pen section 11. The sleeve section 22 is oflesser outside diameter than the section 22 and is of the internal diameter of the pen barrel so that it fits snugly against the barrel wall. The section 22 is of lesser diameter than the inside diameter of the pen barrel thereby providing a space for receiving the lower end of the spring member 15 and also providing at its junction with the section 22* a. shoulder 24 upon which the end of the spring member 15 seats.

I'n assembling the sleeve abutment member 22, the inner wall of the barrel, before the barrel is finally cured or seasoned, is first 5 grooved at the proper place and the sleeve is then forced into the barrel until its larger diameter section 22 seats in the groove 23. Although this larger diameter section 22 is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the barrel, the resiliency of the material from which the barrel is formed permits of sulficient yielding of the same to permit the sleeve to be forced into place as stated. After the sleeve is inserted in the barrel, the barrel is then put through the usual final curing or seasoning process which serves to further tighten the barrel around the sleeve, thus permanently locking it into place.- The sleeve section 22 which snugly fits against I sleeve section 22 ,and the barrel wall regardless of shrinkage tenden'cy in the barrel so as to provide at all times aspacefor freely receiving and confining the lower end of the spring member 15.

It will be noted that the sleeve section 110.

22, together with the pen wall, provides a spring-end receiving-space extending entirely around the barrel wall. This arrangement insures proper positioning of the pressure barstructure, as a complete unit, in any posi tion which the barrel may assume during assembly so that the ink sack will not be injured and it will always be properly acted upon by the pressure bar. The extreme inward or lowerend of the spring member 15 is curved or dished as at 15 to conform some? what to the curvature of the pen barrel so that'this end of the spring will fit freely in its curved retaining space and will properl abut the shoulder 24.

rom the foregoing, it will be obvious that with the parts assembled as shown in Fig. 1, endwise pressure on the plunger 19 flate the ink sack 14. Upon releasing the plunger 19, the spring member 15 will return to its normal straight condition and the sa ;k will quickly return to its normal ex? panded position resulting in the ink being sucked thereinto in a manner which will be well understood. No pressure is exerted on the pen section by the above filling operation and the pen section may readily be slipfitted into the lower end of the barrel with its attendant advantages as hereinabove more particularly mentioned. The lower end of the spring member 15, being confined by the sleeve 22, does not contact with the ink sack and injure the same. Shrinkage is immaterial insofar as the-operation of the filling mechanism is concerned.

It will be understood that while I have shown only one-form of my invention, other end loosely seated in said space against said shoulder, and means engaging the other end of said resilient member for exerting endwise pressure thereon to bow the same to deflate said sack.

2. In a fountain pen of the character described, a barrel having a groove therein, and filling mechanism mounted in said barrel and including a sleeve member having one portion fitting said groove, another portion fitting the inner wall of the pen and of substantial length to support the barrel wall against shrinkage at that point, and another portion of lesser diameter forming with the barrel wall a space for confining another portion of said filling mechanism.

3. In a fountain penof the character described, a barrel having a groove therein,

and filling mechanism 'mounted in said barrel and including a multidiameter sleeve member, one diameter thereof fitting said groove, another and lesser diameter fitting the internal wall of the barrel, and another and still further reduced diameter which with the internal barrel wall forms a confining-supporting space for receiving another part of the filling mechanism.

4. In a fountain pen, the combination with a barrel, acollapsible ink sack in said barrel, and a pressure bar engaging 'said sack,

of a flexible support member for said pres-' sure bar, means for loosely confining one end of said member against lateral displacement and also affording an abutment for that end of said member to prevent end-wise movement of the same, and means acting on the other end of said member to exert end-wise pressure thereon to bow said member.

5. In a fountain pen, the combination with a barrel, a collapsible ink sack in said barrel, and a pressure bar engaging said sack, of a flexible support member for said pressure bar, a sleeve-like device fixed in said barrel and so shaped as to provide in conjunction with the barrel a space for loosely confining one end of said member against lateral di lacem'ent and also allot-ding an abutment ibr that end of said member to prevent endwise movement of the same, and means acting on the other end of said member to exert end-wise pressure thereon to bow said member.

6. In a fountain pen, the combination with a barrel having an opening in one end, a pen section mounted in its other end, an ink sack therein, and a pressure bar acting on said sack, of a flexible support member for said bar, and means in said barrelindependent of said pen section for loosely confining one end of said member and providingjan abutment therefor, said member being accessible through said barrel opening for ready and free removal of the same, said means operatively receiving said one end of said member regardless of the position of barrel when said member is inserted therein through said end opening.

7. In a fountain pen having a barrel with a groove in its inner wall, an ink sack therein, and filling mechanism includin a pressurebar and a flexible support there or, a eonfining-abutment member'for one end of said member which is of sleeve form having one part fitting said barrel groove, a second part fitting the inner barrel wall, and a third part lesser in diameter than the other parts forming with said barrel wall a space extending around the barrel wall, and the juncture of the second and third parts forming a shoulder providing an abutment for the end of said member freely received and confined in said space. i

8. An abutment device for the purpose de- I scribed which takes the form of a sleeve h aving one part adapted to be permanently secured in the inner wall of the pen barrel, another part adapted to seat against and brace the barrel wall, and another part of lesser diameter part reater than the inside diainthe barrel.

11. In a fountain pen, the combination with a barrel, an ink sack therein, filling mechanism which includes a fiat bowable spring member and which is insertable in and removable, as a unit, from the barrel, and a pensection of a sleeve member mounted in said barrel independently of the pen section and which is formed to provide a space freely receiving one end of said spring member at any position such end may assume along the pen barrel when the filling mechanism is inserted in the barrel, which sleeve member also provides an abutment for said member end to prevent bodily end-wise movement of said member.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

DONALD A. MQLAUGHLIN. 

